Calculating-machine.



PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

M. MAYER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No.772629. PATENTED 001 M. MAYBR.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.15, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SEEET8HEET 2.

[21 a .fl@@ hmmz No. 772,623. PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

' M. MAYER.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB.15, 1903.

N0 MODEL. I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q/vihwooe; I

UNITED STATES Patented October 18, 190%.

MAX MAYER, OF MUNICH, GERMANY.

CALCULATING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,623, dated October 18, 1904.

Application filed April 15, 1903.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAx MAYER, a citizen of the Empire of Germany, residing at Munich, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Calculating-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in calculating-machines, and in particular to a machine adapted for adding ordinary columns of figures.

The adding-machines heretofore constructed have usually been quite complicated, owing to the fact that they employ a large number of key-levers, number-wheels, and moving or operating mechanism necessary therewith. As a result such machines are efiective for use only upon their own work-stands, and hence cannot be conveniently used upon a desk or transported with case from place-to place. Furthermore, the complicated construction leads to a high cost of manufacture, and from all these causes the general introduction of such adding-machine has been relatively slow.

The object of my invention is to avoid the above disadvantages and provide an addingmachine useful for operation in summing up ordinary columns of figures and capable of being carried in the pocket of the operator or used upon a reading-desk.

Myinvention, broadly considered, consists of machines in which only a limited number of keys are employed, these keys being capable of operation to obtain any desired number, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. Moreover, these keys are what might be termed unit-keys, since they provide means for adding the units of the columns of figures, and thereby it becomes possible to add the tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on, because the latter may be treated as units, it being only necessary for the operator to note the amount to be carried over.

With this general object in View my invention consists in the features, details of construction, and combination of parts, which Serial No. 152,780. (No model.)

I will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then pointed out in the claims.-

the apparatus with the cover removed; Fig.

on the lineA A of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4, a longitudinal section on the line B B, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a cross-section on the line C C, Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a detail view of the implement employed for setting the machine to Zero; Fig. 7, a plan view of the machine on a reducedscale; Fig. 8, an enlarged detailed view of the brakmechanism and the registering mechanism,-

mechanism.

lows:

In a ournal or bearing of the base-plate mounted a hub c of an angle-piece preferably hub c is rotatably mounted a number-wheel (Z, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The wheel (Z is provided on its periphery with one hundred teeth and-on its upper surface just inside the periphery is provided with numbers from naught to ninety-nine, inclusive, which numbers may be stamped or otherwise marked on the number-wheel or upon a separate disk made of celluloid or other like material and secured to the number-wheel (Z. In order that these numbers may be sufficiently large to be easily read without necessitating a large number-wheel, they are arranged in two concentric series, the units being in the outer series and the tens in the inner series, whereby the parts are to be read downward as they appear at the number-opening .2, Fig. 7 of the cover of the machine. For example, the number 91 will appear at said opening in the form 2, as shown in Fig. 7 The numberwheel cZ moves concentrically with an anglepiece, but is independent of the same, being moved by said angle-piece in a step-by-step In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of- 2, a similar view with the cover and num ber-- wheel removed; Fig.3, a longitudinal section 4 ing mechanism; Fig. 9, an enlarged detailed view of the connection between the operating" The construction and method-of working an apparatus embodying my invention is as folprovided with the arms 6 b 7/, and in the saidand Fig. 10 a modification of the braking manner to an extent depending upon the key actuated at the time.

For the purpose of moving the numberwheel (Z to any desired extent from one tooth to nine teeth only three keys have been provided, which are arranged in the present example as follows: The key marked 1 moves the number-wheel one tooth, the key marked 3 moves it three teeth, and the key marked 5 moves it five teeth. The intermediate movements of the number-wheel (Z are obtained by striking either one key several times in succession or by striking two different keys one after the other. For example, to shift the number-wheel (Z to the extent of two teeth, the key 1 is struck twice, for four teeth the keys 1 and 3 are struck one after the other, for six teeth the key 3 is struck twice, for seven teeth the key 1 is struck once and the key 3 twice, for eight teeth the keys 3 and 5 are struck in succession, and for nine teeth the key 3 is struck three times in succession. Practice has shown that this manner of striking a limited number of keys makes possible a quicker speed in calculating than in machines employing a series of keys for all numbers from one to nine, owing to the fact that the three fingers of the operator may be retained on the keys instead of being shifted about over the keyboard, as in the case of machines previously constructed. Consequently the operator may quickly operate the proper keys without looking at them, and hence may fix his attention on the numbers to be added.

The three keys f, g, and it are pivoted on a common axis 2' and lie with their rear ends under a stirrup 7', .arranged crosswise ot' the keys. The stirrup is capable of oscillating about the studs as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and is connected with the arm Z by means of an arm provided with a slot or opening which receives a pin it, carried by the pitman 70, secured to the angle-piece b. The arm?) carries a pawl Z, which, under the influence of a spring Z, mounted on the pin Z engages the tooth of the number-wheel (Z and rotates the latter to a certain extent when the stirrup is rocked by the action of the numberkey. After each movement of the anglepiece 6 by the stirrup j the angle-piece is returned to its normal position by a spring m, attached to the arm 6, being stopped by its arm 6 coming into contact with a post 19.

The number-wheel (Z is prevented from rotating backward by a spring-arm n, which engages the teeth of the said number-wheel.

The rear ends of the key-lever f, g, and it move between studs a and after each operation are moved back to the normal position indirectly through the operation of the spring m and directly by the springs 01 acting upon the key-levers. (See Figs. 1 and 1.)

Upon striking the keys their rear ends move the stirrup j more'or less, and thereby, owing to the connection of the arm j and the pitman 7c, rotate the angle-piece Z and the numberwheel (Z a certain number of teeth,.according to the key which has been struck. Upon the arm 6 of the angle-piece are provided two downward projections 0 and 0', located at such positions that normally they are some distance removed from the respective key-leversf g, with which they cooperate; but upon the striking of a key f or g the respective projections 0 or 0 will contact with the corresponding key-lever, and thereby stop the movement of the angle-piece b and also of the numberwheel (Z, thus insuring that the number-wheel shall not move beyond the proper amount corresponding to the key-lever struck. order to attain this result, the projection 0 when in its normal position is at a distance from the lever f corresponding to the width of one tooth on the number-wheel and the projection 0 is normally removed from its key-lever g to an extent corresponding to the width of three teeth on the number-wheel. Furthermore, a stop 0" is provided at the side of the casing at a distance corresponding to the width of five teeth on the number-wheel from the nearest edge of the arm 6.

It should be understood that while the designating term angle-piece is used herein such piece need not necessarily be angular in shape and need not be provided with arms. It might, for instance, be a circular disk.

In order that the three key-levers may each have a substantially equal stroke, while at the same time permitting the stirrup 7' to be moved an amount different for each key-lever, the said stirrup is provided over the key f with a large recess andover the key 9 with a somewhat smaller recess, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, whereby these levers f and g first make a certain amount of lost movement before actuating the stirrup Owing to this lost movement the lever f upon its key being struck moves into the path of the projection 0 before the angle-piece is actuated, whereby certainty in the stopping of the angle-piece at the right point is assured, and it is rendered impossible for the number-wheel (Z to move beyond the proper amount. Furthermore, the lever 9 comes into the path of the projection 0 about the time it has passed through one-half its movement, thus rendering it impossible for the angle-piece and the wheel (Z to be moved beyond the proper amount. It is to be understood, of course, that the recess provided in the stirrup 1' above the lever 9 may be omitted, if desired, because the said recess is very shallow and its omission would not materially affect the amount of play of the said keylever 9, while, on the other hand, owing to the projection 0', it would be impossible to move the numberwheel (Z beyond the proper amount. Since the projection 0 is located at a distance from IIO the lever g corresponding to the width of three teeth of the number-wheel (Z the latter will be moved to the extent of three teeth upon striking the key 3, which operates the key-lever g.

The key 5 operates the wheel (Z by means of the stirrup j and the angle-piece until the arm Zof said angle-piece contacts with the stop 0, thus insuring a movement of the number-wheel (Z to the extent of five teeth. A pendulus weight g, mounted on the arm Z of the angle-piece, strongly presses the pawl Z into contact with the teeth of the wheel (Z by means of its momentum at the moment when the projections 0 or 0 come in contact with their respective key-levers f g or when the arm 6 strikes the stop 0, thereby preventing the number-wheel (Z from turning by its momentum to an extent greater than desired.

When the angle-piece Z is first given an impetus by the pitman Z, the inertia of the weight 9 tends to retard its movement until the pin Z strikes against the wall of the incut portion g, which causes the weight g to move with the piece 6. Sudden stoppage of the anglepiece Z by the contact of the projections 0 or 0 with the key-levers f or g causes the nose g to be pressed strongly by the momentum of the weight g against the pawl Z, and thereby applies a friction-braking action to the wheel (Z, thus preventing any overthrow. In

order to render perfectly clear the operationof the weight g, l have shown in Fig. 10 a modified form of the construction in which the weight (1 is mounted upon a separate pivot from the pawl Z, the principle of operation being the same.

At a suitable place on the lower surface of the number-wheel (Z is provided a bell-post 20, which gives a bell-signal at the moment when number 99 is leaving the number-opening and the following number, zero, is coming into view, this signal being sounded by the slipping of the elastic hammer-lever 10 from the bell-post at the proper moment and striking the bell w. This hammer-lever 10 is gradually forced out to one side by the bell-post 20 prior to the arrival of the number-wheel (Z at its position for giving the alarm. As the bell-signals, even with the longest columns of numbers, do not usually exceed three to five, they may be readily noted by the operator, and in this way it is possible to avoid the introduction into the mechanism of complicated devices for registering the hundreds.

The placing of the number-wheel to its Zero position is done by the aid of a somewhat elastic key 8, Fig. 6, which at the beginning of the operation may be inserted into a slot in the axis of the number-wheel and then turned until it comes in contact with a stop If, projecting upward from the cover, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

Instead of arranging the key-levers for the numbers 1, 3, and 5, as shown, they may also be arranged for other numbersas, for example, 1, 2, and 41:, or 1, 3, and 6the mechanism being correspondingly modified.

It will be seen that by the construction disclosed by me a simple and eificient addingmachine is provided which will be satisfactory for use in the class of work generally encountered. Furthermore, the device maybe economically manufactured, readily transported in the pocket of the operator, and occupies but limited space on the desk.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a calculating-machine, the combination with a number-wheel, of an oscillatory stirrup, a link connected with the stirrup and arranged to actuate the number-wheel, and three key-levers each arranged to actuate the stirrup to an extent depending upon the key which is struck.

2. In a calculating-machine, the combination, with a number-wheel, an oscillatory stirrup, a link connected with the stirrup and arranged to actuate said wheel and provided with recesses of varying depths, of three key-levers arranged to enter said recesses whereby the stirrup is oscillated to differing extents dependent upon the depth of the recess for the key-lever operated.

3. In a calculating-machine, the combination, with a number-wheel having peripheral teeth, an angle-piece provided with three arms, and a pawl connected to one arm, of mechanism for rotating said angle-piece in one direction, a spring connected to another arm of the angle-piece and arranged to rotate it in the opposite direction and a projection carried by the third arm of the angle-piece and arranged to stop the motion of the anglepiece in one direction.

1. In a calculating-machine, the combination, with a number-wheel having peripheral teeth, an angle-piece, a pawl carried by the angle-piece and arranged to engage the teeth of the number-wheel, a spring attached to the angle-piece and arranged to draw the same in one direction, and two projections carried by the angle-piece, of three key-levers, two of which are arranged to move upward into the path of their respective projections on the angle-piece, means intermediate of the keylevers and the angle-piece for operating the latter against the tension of the spring, and a stop device arranged to limit the movement given to the angle-piece by the three keylevers.

5. In a calculating-machine, the combination, with a number-wheel having peripheral teeth, an angle-piece provided with three arms, a pawl carried by one arm and arranged to engage the teeth of the number-wheel, a

spring attached to another arm of the angleranged to limit the movement given to the 10 piece and arranged to draw the latter in one angle-piece by the third key-lever. direction, and two projections carried by the In testimony whereoflaffix my signature in third arm of the angle-piece, of three key-lepresence of two Witnesses. vers tWo of Which are arranged to move upward into the paths of their respective projections on the angle-piece, means intermediate said key-levers and the angle-piece for operating the latter, and a stop device ar- MAX MAYER.

W'itn esses:

THEKLA NENNER, \VALTER E. BOWMAN. 

